RAISING AWARENESS: Rebecca Koren, health promotion project officer for the Northern Mallee Primary Care Partnership, pretends to be a bird at the Mental Health Week event yesterday, and (inset)Seher Ozonal participates in laughing yoga. Pictures: Luke Birch
MILDURA’S Langtree Mall was filled with laughter yesterday as people were encouraged to sing, do yoga and even pretend to be animals in public.
Although laughter was involved, it was organised to create awareness around the serious issue of mental illness.
Jacqui Pasquale, a community educator in mental health at Mallee Family Care, said the event aimed to get people involved,
communicate mental health issues, and offer resources to connect with health services in the area.
“The event is to build awareness about how little things can help with mental health,” she said.
“Laughter, singing, eating with friends, and generally connecting with the community is important.
“A lot of people that hang around the mall don’t have a lot of other things to do.
“So we have some information here that might be useful to them.”
Mildura Rural City Council candidate Jill Joslyn has been volunteering for Mental Health Week.
She said caring for her son, who has a mental illness, lead to her passion for helping people with such conditions.
“I think it’s important that people are mentally healthy,” she said.
“It’s good to have events like these so people can participate, have fun in the community, and be at peace with yourself.”
For more of this story, purchase your copy of Thursday's Sunraysia Daily 11/10/2012.